"The government is proceeding with the adoption of a series of reform measures, demonstrating by actions its intention to substantially strengthen the incomes of both low pensioners and socially vulnerable citizens."

This was pointed out by the Minister of National Economy, Kostis Hatzidakis, presenting the amendments submitted to the Parliament, following the measures announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis from the plenary session of the Parliament, both for the banks and for low pensioners, but also for the Security Corps.

According to what Hatzidakis said, the first amendment provides, among other things, that:

An extension of two months—until the end of February 2025—is given for the completion of the bureaucratic procedures for obtaining a "golden visa" in order not to cancel investments that had already proceeded.

The exemption from ENVAT for citizens of fire-affected areas is extended for the year 2025.

A new deadline of March 31, 2025, is given for the completion of cases of out-of-court settlement of tax disputes that have already started so that they are not referred to the new institution and are judged by the same commission that started the procedure.

Hatzidakis then emphasized the second amendment, which includes the measures announced by the Prime Minister concerning reductions in bank commissions, potential beneficiaries of the ESAS, and the special unhealthy allowance for members of the Armed Forces and the Security Forces.

As the Minister of National Economy said, the six articles of the amendment provide for:

-provisions for the zeroing or reduction of the most common supplies per year and continuously by 150 million euros per year.

'The measures are set to take effect about a month—from 20 to 21 January—from the publication of the law in the Official Gazette to allow for the adjustment of the banks' information systems,' he explained.

He added that 'in addition to the provisions, competition in the financial system is being enhanced by removing all restrictions that existed on the ability of credit companies, so that under the control of the CBE, they too can give loans of all kinds and business loans'.

"This is a real reform because it strengthens competition, and in any case it is a response to an attitude of the banks, which, as the people say, were taking out the sword from the fly," Hatzidakis said.

Also, from 1/1/2026, for both banks and shervishers, the ENFIA they pay for residential properties they own in order to push them to run faster the disposal of the properties they have in the market.

Hatzidakis described two more regulations as very important.

• The first is the provision of free medicines to 130,000 low pensioners who retired from 2020-2021 onwards—who would potentially be eligible for the ESAS, as are those who were eligible before 2020—which he described as a "common sense and social justice regulation." The second regulation concerns the allowance of 100 euros each to 155,000 members of the Armed Forces and Security Forces and "thus satisfies a request of the last 10 years for the payment of a special working conditions and risk allowance.".

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